A feasibility study of transurethral resection followed by radiotherapy combined with concurrent twice-weekly gemcitabine in the treatment of invasive bladder carcinoma

Dalia Osama, Mohamed Shalaby, Mohamed Abdelhamed Aboziada

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Radical cystectomy is the traditional treatment of cancer bladder; however, bladder preservation in selective patients is beneficial. To evaluate the efficacy of transurethral resection plus chemo-radiation in achieving bladder preservation, using conformal radiotherapy and twice weekly Gemcitabine.

Results: Thirty two (86.4%) patients had CR. The treatment schedule was tolerable and was associated with moderate toxicity that was easily treated. Six patients developed G3 toxicity that required treatment interruption until improvement. After 2 years of follow up, 29 patients achieved good local control with 2 years local recurrence free survival was 79%. The 2 years overall survival and bladder intact survival was 70% and 69% respectively.

Conclusions: Tri-modality bladder-sparing approach consists of transurethral resection, chemotherapy twice weekly Gemcitabine and radiotherapy is well tolerated, with high rate of bladder preservation. This approach may be considered as a reasonable alternative to cystectomy in the proper selected patients.

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